Diary of a Gallery Girl

Poised for a standing ovation

2008-06-25T14:11:00.000-07:00

We're excited to present the work of a talented Indiana woodworker, Fred Nesbitt. This multi-talented artist (he's also an accomplished musician), handcarved the music stand from curly cherry. It stands approximately 41" high and spans 32". What a special gift for the musician in your life! Fred's also making a taller one for those who prefer to stand while they perform. $1,450.

In addition, we're showing an incredible wooden chest that he made with a hidden compartment in the lid. Contact Gallery Fifty for a digital photo and we'll email it. 231-932-0775.

Ways of Seeing: The Abstract Art of Jennifer Gardiner Lam, Delbert Michel & Debra Lanning

2008-06-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

The current exhibition runs from May 3 - July 31, 2008

Explore the worlds of three talented abstract artists and take away your own impressions. Their art depicts real forms in a simplified or reduced way, keeping only an allusion of the original natural subject.

The landscape... the human form... even music... all used as starting points. Where do their creative journeys take them?

Check out the entire exhibition on our web site at: www.galleryfifty.com.

Tour of the Pacific Rim

2008-05-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

Over Mother's Day Weekend we participated in a fundraising event for Child and Family Services. The "Festival of Tables" drew large crowds and enabled Gallery Fifty to showcase a few of its artists including Christian Burchard and Janine Sopp. We partnered with Select Fine Wine to create a display table with the theme,"Tour of the Pacific Rim."

The event raised a lot of money for a good cause and we look forward to our entry next year. I'm considering using all recycled elements, so check back to see what we come up with!

"Hearts & Flowers" Exhibition

2008-03-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

"Hearts & Flowers:
An Exploration of Love"
February 9 -April 30, 2008

Gallery Fifty is currently featuring an all-media exhibition and sale featuring the work of our favorite artists and craftspeople. The show ended up being 2-3 times larger than expected with 80 pieces submitted by thirty artists. Cash prizes were awarded for first, second and third place and nine honorable mentions were awarded:

First Place - David Petrakovitz, "Love Totem"
Second Place - Melonie Steffes, "The Lovers of Verdona"
Third Place - Rod Bearup, "Passion Flower Blossom"

Honorable Mentions:
Debbie Sparks, "Hide and Seek"
Anna Hildebrand, "Lady in Lace"
Julie Pearson, "Live What You Believe... Make Your Whole World Your Art"
Nancy Crisp, "Sudokad"
Rufus Snoddy, "From the Garden of Wisdom"
Carol C. Spaulding, "Splash"
Flora Ricca Hoffman, "RAH"
Timothy G. Lewis, "Valentine Cat & Bird"
Joe DeLuca, "Bleeding Hearts After Dark"

We've already sold twelve pieces, but you can view the available work on-line at www.galleryfifty.com.

Kiss my glass

2008-03-07T17:55:00.001-08:00

Tennessee glass artist James Lang creates these kisses to last forever. They come fumed with sterling silver and are about 1" tall. An excellent stocking stuffer or Valentine's Day gift, they can also be used as pendants. Just $5.00 each!

Good, clean fun

2008-03-07T17:36:00.000-08:00

Massachusetts designer Rebecca Townsend has packaged these wonderful soaps and potpourris. We find that they make popular "hostess" gifts. (Think: "I spent a week at your beautiful lakeside cottage and all you got was this lousy bottle of wine." You can be a lot more creative than that!)

The potpourri contains oodles of shells, sea glass, scented rock salt and tiny fragrance pearls. Gallery Fifty carries Cottage, Beach, Beach Grass, Sea Warm Sand and Skinny Dip fragrances. Each are 8 oz. and cost $15.00.

We love the frosty, colorful shards of moisurizing glycerine soaps that really look like beach glass! These unique soaps have a wonderful clean, breezy scent. There are approximately 20-25 pieces per package and the cost is $7.50.

Common Ground: Works by Jerry Gates

2007-10-26T13:54:00.000-07:00

Common Ground: Works by Jerry Gates
November 3 - December 31, 2007

"Third Thursday" Artist Reception on November 15 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

At Gallery Fifty, we are really excited and proud to present a comprehensive showing of Jerry Gates' work. The show consists of both framed representational and abstract mixed media paintings. Over seventy-five pieces will by on display and available for viewing on-line at www.galleryfifty.com.

Jerry has been an experimental artist for many years because of his fascination with light and color, surface and texture, subject matter and form. His deep belief in the Jungian premise of a "collective consciousness" has inspired him to create content that will be inwardly understood. His aim has been to take the viewer past the obvious to discover that which lies beyond the surface, with an intangible, but deep understanding of his or her own personal aesthetics.

Jerry holds a Master of Fine Arts degree. He has been an Assistant Professor of Art at Central Michigan University and is currently Adjunct Professor of Art, Northwestern Michigan College.

Artist Statement:
My work, I suspect, is a product of Jungian psychology and familiarity with things past and present. Not unlike the Romantics of the 18th Century, I have attempted to capture both the beautiful and the sublime, something fleeting but still in stasis, something inwardly understood in a universal sense. It is this collective consciousness that I try to tap, a soul tweeking, if you will; this "I think I have been there before" or experienced "this" before.

Someone once said "Art is a lie that enables us to see the truth." When one unearths what is beneath their own aesthetic, they become enlightened to the infinite possibilities of the creative endeavor.

It has been my goal to represent this philosophy by testing my curiosity in different media and subject matter. This has helped me to codify my own existence as silent observer, participant and explorer.

Fiber as inspiration for glass

2007-10-26T11:33:00.001-07:00

Alaska artist Tamara Johannes is a multi-media artist who has worked clay, metal, fiber and most recently warm glass. She creates these great handcrafted, kiln-fired, dichroic glass barrettes. They make wonderful gifts of "wearable" art.

Tamera was originally a hot glass beadmaker, but then she began experimenting with the art of fusing glass as a way of combining torch work components into more complex glass jewelry. Using dichroic glass has become one of her trademarks.

Early work in fiber and clay were instrumental in forming a basis for work with glass. Many of her designs have elements of her original quilt work and patterns.

3" barrettes are $24; 4" are $28. We also carry Tamera's earrings and brooches. Come into Gallery Fifty to see our current color/ pattern selection: 800 Cottageview Drive, Suite 50, Traverse City, Michigan 49684.

Leaving our shell behind

2007-10-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

The world we live in, even where we have made a mess of it, is full of incredible sights. Tennessee artist Jennifer Adair believes that art should make us pause in our rush to wherever we are supposed to be. "Art should make us remember to be alive right here, right now," she says. "Art should help us see the world we live in."

Jennifer is fascinated by how hard people work in order to make things that look like they were made by something other than a human. "It takes a mollusk to make a nautilus shell. Humans use computers to create fractal images; wind does it with some sand. An agate, a sunset, a butterfly wing: our imperfect copies, whether of manmade stone or canvas and paint, require great effort on our part."

So her glass is about color and light, texture and pattern. And if she really gets it right, an explorer from some other world would wonder, when he looks at her work, what creature had left his shell behind.

Gallery Fifty carries her fused dichroic glass frames and triangle plates. Frames run $42 - $48; Plates are $75 - $95. Call for our current selection: 231-932-0775.

Art & Artifact: Fruits of fire

2007-10-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

Married Michigan artists Nathan Grubich and Amanda St.Hilaire-Grubich create soda-fired ceramics that bridge the gap between sculpture and function. Having background studies in biology, oceanography and anthropology their work references found objects and artifacts found amidst nature. The intrigue and interest in nature and the contemporary world creates a correlation between art and artifact. The symbiotic relationship between the two in the studio provides the balance between form and surface texture. Both artists interchangeably use forms and textures created by one another to create a unified body of work.

Gallery Fifty is offering two "Fruits of Fire" sets. The "fruits" are actually rattles with different sounds and tones. They are cradled in a vessel that it approximately 5" tall by 8" in diameter. Sets sell for $270 (shown) and $280 respectively. Email christie@galleryfifty.com for close-up photos and more information.

Fun and 'folky'

2007-10-25T17:37:00.000-07:00

Pennsylvania artist Ed Brownlee creates functional, joyful ceramics often referencing art history, folk art and cartoons. He creates with the collector in mind. "My pieces are ambassadors of enjoyment and individuality," he says.

His ceramics are wheel thrown stoneware and fired to cone 6. Ed formulates his own glazes and overglazes utilizing a “majolica” technique of overglaze decoration, but at a higher temperature. Ed received his BFA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1985; MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1987.

Gallery Fifty carries Ed's jars, casserole dishes, teapots and plates. We love his double-sided face cups. They run $26 each. Contact us for our current selection: 231-932-0775.

Tiles for the nature enthusiast

2007-10-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

Ceramic artist Leif Sporck creates these incredible stonewear tiles with themes dear to any northern Michigan resident. Nature, botanicals, fish and wildlife — each with his unique design and glaze color.

Leif's tiles are approximately 5" x 5" and have a hole on the back for hanging. They are for indoor/ outdoor use and run $24.50 each. Gallery Fifty always has a great selection of his work. They make great "guy gifts" and are popular with collectors.

Note: I wish we could give you more personal information about the artist, but he is so shy! I know his father was a potter, but other than that, not much. He's currently updating his own web site, so maybe we'll know more soon...

A passion for texture and color

2007-10-25T16:39:00.001-07:00

Ceramic artist Janine Sopp creates one-of-a-kind pieces and collections in her studio in Brooklyn, NY. She spent the first seven years of her career designing clothing and textiles.

With this rich and varied experience, she traveled across Europe and Morocco, where she uncovered her deeper artistic desire of molding clay. The artist favors clay because it is a responsive medium that indulges her passion for texture and color.

As Janine rolls out each slab of clay, she begins a dialog with the material. The clay speaks to her, telling her what to draw, where to stamp and mark and roll across its surface. Textures and patterns tell a story and whisk the artist on a journey of discovery, sometimes in molded forms, sometimes on flat surfaces with markings like a map. Once the clay has dried, Sopp paints on layers of color to reveal a dance between shapes and images. The final steps, a dark pigment wash and satin finish, complete the journey, giving dimension to each element and inviting the viewer to follow along.

Gallery Fifty has a fine selection of Janine's work, including sushi sets in two different patterns along with matching rice and serving bowls. We also offer the sake set (above) for $95. Her pottery makes an excellent wedding gift or present for the couple that "has it all."

Rediscovering the old; Creating the new

2007-10-25T08:48:00.000-07:00

Tennessee artist Paula Mealka enjoys experimenting with dfferent art elements to create interesting, fun and sometimes functional fused glass work.

Fused glass can be subtle, elegant and often bold in color, shape, texture and design. Her work continuously changes and matures as she discovers new methods and skills. Paula uses many traditional fused glass techniques, but she also loves to make things up as she goes and by doing so, creating something new and wonderful. "Of course, this reckless abandon sometimes leads to disaster," she says. "But more often then not, it adds an interesting touch to my work."

She works with deep in glass (1/2-1 inch), creating pieces with depth and texture. One of the methods Paula incorporates into her work is taking glass to a very high temperature and when it is molten, combing a design through it. She also enjoys weaving glass stringers to construct intricate patterns.

For the artist, fused glass is the perfect medium to rediscover old techniques, create new ones by accident and continue her journey of art and discovery every time she opens the kiln.

Gallery Fifty carries a nice selection of her vases (above) for $95 each. The are approximately 7" tall by 5" round. We also offer her "Therapy" (below) plates for $175 each. They are 12" in diameter. Both designs make excellent gifts!

Hand silkscreened for richness and saturation

2007-10-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

For the past few years, we've done really well with a hand-silkscreened card line from New York called "Great Arrow." The designs are fresh and original and the quality is amazing. Many of our customers buy the cards as affordable artwork in order to frame!

The process starts with a new card concept from their artists. The designer provides sketches, paintings, digital designs, or even a three-dimensional collage. Great Arrow's in-house design team then prepares the art for the silkscreen process. Their colorist brings the original art to life using a palette of more than 500 colors of ink, including metallic colors and clear varnishes. Next, the design goes to print.

Screenprinting is a stencil technique in which the printer uses a rubber-bladed squeegee to force ink through the mesh of a screen; only the open areas of the mesh allow the ink to pass through. The squeegee process is repeated for each color on each card, with time allowed between each pass for the cards to dry. Great Arrow might be able to make cards faster with automated printing machines, but patience isn't just a virtue — it's also a value. Individual cards run from 2.85 - 3.35 (you can't buy a lousy Hallmark card for that little!)

Hand silkscreen printing is physical work, but it doesn't demand strength as much as feel. An experienced printer can control the pressure on the squeegee better than any machine, allowing us to reproduce the subtleties in an artist's original work. That's why artists love to design for Great Arrow — their cards have a richness and saturation that simply cannot be replicated by standard lithography.

Gallery Fifty always has a nice selection to choose from. Ask about our cards for birthday, anniversary, get well, sympathy, thank you, wedding, baby, or "just because." Our two favorites are above. The monkey card says "You drive me bananas." And the cat card says "You're amazing" inside.

Light the dark corners of your world

2007-10-20T15:57:00.000-07:00

Washington state artist Beth Spadafora creates these contemporary and colorful glass nightlights. Many layers of colored glass are cut and assembled, then fused together in a hot kiln resulting in these playfully elegant nightlights that cast an ethereal glow. Light the dark corners of your world with these hip nightlights!

The look she tries to evoke is casual and somewhat organic, a little bit crazy and just plain fun. "I believe in spontaneity both in art and in life," she says. "Although the glass does take a number of steps in the fabrication, the design work is usually quite spontaneous."

All work is made with special glass formulated especially for kiln firing. The process involves cutting, shattering and rearranging layers of colored glass and then firing it in a kiln to melt it all together. This new piece is then cut into the shapes required for nightlights and fired again into final form. The resulting glass is wildly colorful with an intense depth. Abstract images appear to those who take the time to observe.

Each one is approximately 4" x 2.25" and individually packaged in a clear oval box for $35. Gallery Fifty has a great selection. Call 231-932-0775 for more information.

Original paintings as personal adornment

2007-10-12T12:18:00.001-07:00

Ananda Khalsa draws inspiration from Asian art, natural forms, and the cool sleekness of metal. Each of her pieces contains an original painting on paper, which is set behind hand ground glass in fine and sterling silver. Much of her work is accented with the highest quality semiprecious stones and/or high karat gold.

Another important influence in Ananda's work is the powerful symbolism behind each of the subjects she chooses to paint. At Gallery Fifty, we're representing her jewelry with the following images...

Bluebird: This little bird is a universal symbol of happiness and the coming of spring.

Crane: The elegant courting dance of the crane has made this graceful bird a symbol of love and romance.

Dragonfly: With its delicate and graceful wings reflecting and refracting light, the Dragonfly represents new light and joyfulness.

Koi Fish: According to a Chinese legend, a Koi was once turned into a dragon after fearlessly climbing a treacherous waterfall, making them symbolic of courage and strength.

Lotus: Sprouting from the murky mud at the bottom of the pond, the lotus rises above the water to create it’s exquisite bloom. This makes it a symbol of purity and enlightenment in many eastern philosophies.

I've admired Ananda's work since before we opened the gallery nearly three years ago. We've been testing the waters with our inventory of "art jewelry" and finally feel ready to take the plunge by bringing her unique pieces in. Our shipment is expected by Thanksgiving 2007. You can preview the selection on our web site: www.galleryfifty.com.

Selected Works: Five Decades

2007-10-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

"Selected Works: Five Decades" is our current exhibition of drawings, paintings and constructions by Michigan artist Joe De Luca. The show is up until October 31, 2007, with an artist reception on Thursday, October 18 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. This is by far the largest show we've installed with upwards of 75 pieces, many very large.

Joe's work can be found in numerous public and private collections. A professor of Art at Western Michigan University for thirty years, he has consistently exhibited in solo and group shows, garnering numerous awards and reviews in national publications.

Artist Statment:

My work is a microcosm of the landscape and deals with my emotional and intuitive responses to my environment. I am fascinated by textured, weathered and time-worn objects and surfaces. The effects considered are those of light, atmosphere and shadow.

Extended travels to Europe, and especially Italy and Portugal, have resulted in important motivational sources in my painting. Italy is a place to better understand my heritage and an environment in which to seek and study high art and architectural treasures. The Etruscan civilization became a significant resource during the early 80's. In recent years, my interest shifted to Portugal, as it seemed a natural extension of my interests in antiquity. This, the oldest country of Europe, offers a powerful, rough presence and unpretentious charm.

I presently work on large-scale canvases and include such materials as tar, cardboard, metal, wood and found objects. The works, if successful, give the appearance of ruined sections of old walls, excavated from a prior ancient setting. The surfaces often reveal multi-layered, richly developed textural patinas through the utilization and combination of paint, collage, inlay and found materials.

Present images attempt to visually appear to mark a passage of time, as well as to describe the metaphysical nature of things. These considerations seem, at this time, to be reasons to dignify a particular space and maintain the delicate balance that life necessitates and demands.

Take a virtual tour of this retrospective at www.galleryfifty.com. (Photos by Don Rutt)

Looking deeper into the spirit

2007-10-10T17:27:00.001-07:00

Michigan artist Keith Smith believes art should take the viewer a step beyond the surface of an object. As a result, his paintings are characterized by a vigorous, often unorthodox use of color, accompanied by strong contours. “I try to use color as a way to make the viewer see more than the basic shapes that define what’s already known to us,” he says.

A native of Traverse City, Keith is entirely self-taught though he’s been drawing and painting since his elementary school days. He paints in acrylics to take advantage of their rich hues and quick drying time — allowing him to layer his colors with little waiting, and without compromising the color purity of each layer.

His influences include the usual suspects like van Gogh, Matisse and the other Fauves because of their unusual and innovative use of color. But he has been just as affected by the clarity and boldness of the American west. The work of Native American artists like the late Fritz Scholder and T.C. Cannon, and their adherents, have played a large role in his artistic development, as well.

“The way they use color — unreal and almost bizarre at times — lures you into the picture and has a way of making you look deeper into the spirit of the subject depicted,” he says. “That’s the goal I have with my paintings. I want people to see that ordinary things can be extraordinary in nature.”

Whether it’s a simple barn, galloping horse, talking crow, or tree-lined hillside, his paintings attempt to evoke the emotion, passion and energy of life.

Gallery Fifty is currently show five of his works, including "Is Anybody Listening?, 24" x 30" framed, $600. Call us for more information or images of Keith's paintings: 231-932-0775.

'Flower Series' blooming at Gallery Fifty

2007-09-21T15:21:00.001-07:00

Canadian glass artist Robert Held says, "Being physical with color and form is my love. After experimenting with many different media, I discovered glass and was instantly captivated. The clarity of the glass, the roar of the furnaces, the heat, and even the constant danger were all factors that influenced my choice of this difficult yet beautiful medium."

"Glassblowing allows me to explore both painterly concerns and my fascination with surface decoration, while continuing to challenge the other physical and creative skills required to take the vessel shape in ever new directions."

"My intimate relationship (talking to) the hot glass, the laying on of colors, layer upon layer, the addition of textures through broken glass shards, threads of molten glass and other techniques, is an incomparable experience. This fickle, molten mass will allow itself to be coaxed only by those who know its language."

I just made our winter order and am excited to introduce the 'flower series' to our customers. The tall vases (top right) are 11" and run $300. We love the smaller forms (stacked on left) — they're 6.5" to 7.5" and roughly $250. We expect delivery in mid-October and will post our selection on the web site: www.galleryfifty.com.

We're undeniably attracted to these magnets

2007-09-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

California designer Heather Dean creates these great six-piece magnet sets which are recycled from vintage jewelry. Single earrings, broken pins and jewelry parts, vintage buttons and baubles have been transformed into fabulous new accessories for your fridge, filing cabinet, or memo board.

Magnets are packaged on a piece of metal, wrapped in plastic and tied with a coordinating organdy ribbon. Six-piece sets are $28. We also carry three-piece sets for $14. Contact Gallery Fifty for our current selection: 231-932-0775.

Color and Composition

2007-09-20T12:03:00.000-07:00

We just started carrying work by Traverse City artist Carol Spaulding. I've long admired her pastel paintings for their vibrant color combinations and interesting compositions. Her work has a meditative, almost ethereal quality, with a truly original take on landscapes.

“I’m more interested in expressing a feeling than recording something and having it look like what it is,” she said in a 2006 interview with the Glen Arbor Sun. “I really love working with color and not sticking with just trying to put down the color that I was really seeing, to be a little more imaginative.”

“I think that being an artist really tweaks one’s powers of observation. I feel like I’m looking at things more intensely, and sort of with a purpose, because I’m always thinking about responding and expressing something from what I’m seeing,” she said.

Gallery Fifty is showing a fine selection of Carol's work, including "Leelanau Morning," (top) 12" x 6" framed and priced at $625; and "On the Road," (right) 6" x 6" at $650. Stop into Gallery Fifty for a closer look: 800 Cottageview Drive, Suite 50, Traverse City, MI 49684.

Eeek! Photo bugs and screen spiders

2007-09-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

Jodie Flowers' line of bug themed gifts is actually made out of polymer clay. She sculpts the clay into whimsical creatures - each different from the next. Then she bakes them in her conventional oven, lets them cool and begins to paint each piece with meticulous detail.

For the final touch, Jodie uses embellishments such as beads and swarovski crystals which are added and sealed with a poly-acrylic high gloss finish. Each piece radiates vibrant colors and charming personality.

The spiders attach to any screen. Just put their little legs through and watch the smiles they bring. They can also be positioned to stand around on all eights as a delightful little conversation piece. They are $20 each.

The colorful ladybugs use their antennas to hold small photos, messages, business cards or name tags. They also make festive place card holders! They are $24 each.

We love to offer hand-crafted gifts that everyone can afford, and these fit the bill! Call for our current selection: 231-932-0775.

'Wired' for vintage appeal

2007-09-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

New Jersey fiber artist Beth Whiting uses ribbon to fashion these little brooches and barettes. Primarily, she uses French wired which allows her to sew, pinch, twist and otherse coax the flowers into shape. It also allows her pieces to age gracefully as they are worn and loved, giving them vintage appeal. The craftsmanship is superior and each is backed in soft suede.

We've been carrying Beth's work for over a year and her pieces make popular gifts. Brooches start at $20 and go up to $48 (see top photo). Barettes run $22 - $26 each (bottom photo). Call Gallery Fifty for our current selection: 231-932-0775.

'Mr. Art Critic' makes a stop at Gallery Fifty

2007-09-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

Here's some fun gallery news! On Monday, director Rich Brauer and his crew filmed the opening scene for his upcoming film, "Mr. Art Critic." He approached me about a month ago, looking for a location that could pass for a hip Chicago art gallery (major compliment) and we were thrilled to oblige.

Actor Bronson Pinchot plays the role of M.J. Clayton, a high-profile art critic. Known for his heartless, mean-spirited reviews, he makes an impulsive statement that any idiot can make art, and sets out to prove it. Quickly realizing that it is infinitely more difficult than he perceived, he quietly purchases a beautiful painting from a talented artist, and submits it as his own entry into an art exhibition while vacationing at his summer home on Mackinac Island. The real truth is ultimately revealed, resulting in a dramatic shift from arrogance to humility... discovering the hard way that the ability to create art is indeed a gift.

I witnessed the movie-making magic from only feet away and it was a real education! There were about 15 crew in intimate proximity to the actors and an amazing amount of lighting, sound and film equipment. Took nearly five hours to film about two minutes of content.

Rich plans to premier the movie in late November of this year. Hopefully, it will get widely distributed and everyone will want to track down the beautiful paintings featured. By the way, they belong to local artist Amy LeJeune Harper. She recently here moved from Chicago where the city was a main focus of her abstract aerial landscapes.

Above: Director Rich Brauer and actor Bronson Pinchot figuring out how to work together. Below: Closing the gallery was a small price to pay for a snapshot with Bronson! (Yes, you recognize him as Balki from the sitcom "Perfect Strangers.")